Kit for Decorating Fingernails and Toenails

ABSTRACT

Provided is a kit, device and method for decorating fingernails and toenails with an illuminating light. The kit includes a power source, a power source case, at least one light to be positioned on a fingernail or toenail, an adhesive for connecting the light and the power source case to the fingernail or toenail; a conductive ink for electrically connecting the power source to the light; and a conductive ink application device for applying the conductive ink directly to the fingernail or toenail to electrically connect the power source to the lights. The device generally includes a power source, a light and an electrical circuit positioned on the top surface of a fingernail or toenail whereas the method generally includes steps for applying these components onto the surface of a fingernail or toenail.

I. BACKGROUND A. Technical Field

Provided is a kit and method for decorating fingernails and toenails.

B. Description of Related Art

Cosmetologists, beauticians and nail technicians specialize in the art of providing cosmetic beauty treatment for fingernails, toenails, the hands and feet. Typically, this treatment consists of cleaning and massaging of the hands and feet of the client as well as the clients' nails, filing and filling the nail, shaping the nail and its free edge including clipping the nail, polishing the nail and applying paint and designs onto the nail.

Professionals in the field of beauty maintenance are constantly seeking new paints, designs and other options for decorating the fingernails and toenails of their clients. In addition, many clients approach their local beauty professionals with specific requests for unique and original personalized designs. When approached with such requests, beauty professionals must do their best to accommodate their clients' requests for a specific design using the technology, equipment and materials that are available to them.

One such design request for fingernails and toenails that has been trending in the industry is that of incorporating an electrical light which illuminates onto the surface of the fingernail or toenail. In the past, such lights are operated by mounting light emitting diodes (LEDs) onto a fingernail or toenail and connecting the lights to a passive radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag. The RFID tag would become an intermediary power source for the lights once it is exposed to radio wave energy. An originating power source for the RFID tag typically is a smartphone or other mobile device. These mobile devices typically have an App or software program which is designed to transmit radio waves to the RFID tag positioned on the nail in order to provide power to illuminate the lights.

There are several disadvantages to the fingernail and toenail illuminating devices of the prior art. First, the fingernail and toenail lights or LEDs are only operational in conjunction with a mobile device such as a smartphone and a corresponding software application. This can be a problem for individuals who wish to decorate their fingernails and toenails with illuminating lights but who don't have access to the expensive electronic equipment (e.g., a smartphone) required to operate the lights or who simply don't want to deal with the hassle of using an external mobile device to operate the lights. In addition, some individuals might not like the idea of passing radio waves through their bodies to illuminate the lights given the uncertainty with respect to any health implications that might result. Moreover, many individuals in the industry do not like the idea of attaching an RFID transponder or receiver onto one's body as there is a latent fear that a corresponding chip which is designed to track individuals' movements and activities throughout the day could also be attached to the RFID device or corresponding App that is used in conjunction with the RFID device. Therefore, it is desirable to provide an alternative device and apparatus for powering lights which may be attached to individuals' fingernails and toenails.

II. SUMMARY

Provided is a kit for decorating fingernails and toenails with an illuminating light. The kit includes a power source, a power source case, at least one light to be positioned on a fingernail or toenail, an adhesive for connecting the light and the power source case to the fingernail or toenail; a conductive ink for electrically connecting the power source to the light; and a conductive ink application device for applying the conductive ink directly to the fingernail or toenail to electrically connect the power source to the lights.

Also provided is a lighting device for decorating fingernails and toenails. The lighting device includes a power source, a power source case, at least one light positioned on a fingernail or a toenail and a conductive ink electrically connecting the power source to the at least one light.

Further provided is a method for applying a lighting device to the top surface of a fingernail or toenail. The method includes the steps of applying a power source onto the surface of a fingernail or toenail, applying a light onto the surface of a fingernail or toenail and applying a conductive ink to the top surface of a fingernail or toenail to connect the power source to the light.

III. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary power source consisting of two zinc air 1.4 volt button batteries.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary power source case consisting of a compartment for holding a power source, such as a pair of batteries, two external electrical terminals, a lid and a latching mechanism.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary power source case consisting of a compartment for holding a power source, such as a pair of batteries, two external electrical terminals, a lid and a latching mechanism.

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary conductive ink applicator.

FIGS. 5 through 12 illustrate various exemplary decorative electrical lighting devices which may be applied to an individual's fingernail.

IV. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The search for new designs or ways of decorating fingernails and toenails is constant among those in the beauty industry and their clients as individuals seek to follow the latest trends yet differentiate themselves from their peers and develop their own sense of personal style to stand out from the crowd. One area for development in the field of beauty upkeep has been the use of lights as a way of decorating one's fingernails and toenails. The present disclosure provides a kit, device and method which may be used by beauty professionals and individuals alike to decorate fingernails and toenails with an illuminating light.

Provided is a kit for decorating fingernails and toenails. The kit incorporates the use of lights to decorate the surface of an individual's fingernails and toenails. The kit may generally be described as including the following components: a power source, a power source case, at least one light to be positioned on a fingernail or toenail, an adhesive for connecting the light and the power source case to the nail and a device for applying a non-toxic, quick drying conductive ink to the nail to electrically connect the power source to the lights.

In certain embodiments, the power source which is used to provide electrical power to the fingernail or toenail lights is a battery. The battery used as the power source is typically a miniature cell battery (also referred to as a “button” battery) similar to those used to power hearing aids and wristwatches. Button cell batteries are single cell, cylindrical batteries which are typically about 5 to about 25 mm in diameter and about 1 to about 6 mm in height. The button cell battery used in the present device may be any size which is capable of being fit onto the surface of an individual's fingernail or toenail. Furthermore, the battery which is used in the present device is not limited to the sizes mentioned above as further developments in technology may allow for smaller sized batteries to be used with the present device.

The button battery may consist of a silver cell battery, a mercury cell battery, an alkaline cell battery, a zinc-air cell battery or any other type of battery cell suitable for providing electrical power to a light positioned on a fingernail or a toenail. In certain embodiments, the button battery used in the present device is a zinc-air battery. The advantages of using zinc-air batteries is that they use air as the depolarizer to prevent the buildup of hydrogen gas and have a higher capacity than the other battery types. In other embodiments, the power source may comprise a thin-film battery such as EnFilm™ (ST Microelectronics, Kings Park, N.Y.) which is an extremely thin (220 μm) rechargeable solid-state battery with fast constant voltage recharge and a lifetime of more than 10 years. Such thin-film solid state batteries may comprise a LiCoO₂ cathode, a LiPON ceramic electrolyte and a lithium anode and are safe from burning or explosion.

The button battery may possess a voltage which is suitable for powering a light positioned on a fingernail or a toenail. In certain embodiments, the output voltage of the button battery may be 3 volts or less, 1.5 volts or less, 1.4 volts or less, alternatively or 1.3 volts or less. However, the battery which is used in the present device is not limited to the specific voltages mentioned above as further developments in technology may allow for batteries of different voltages to be used with the present device. In certain embodiments, the battery used in the present device is a 1.4 volt button battery.

As mentioned above, the button battery is positioned on the surface of the fingernail or the toenail that contains the light that is to be illuminated. In certain embodiments, two button batteries are positioned on each fingernail or toenail that contains a light to be illuminated. In other embodiments, one button battery is positioned on each fingernail or toenail that contains a light to be illuminated. However, the number of batteries which are used to provide power to illuminate a light positioned on a fingernail or toenail is not limited to one or two batteries as it is envisioned that any suitable number of batteries may be positioned on the surface of the fingernail or toenail to provide power to illuminate one or more lights positioned on a fingernail or toenail.

A power source case is also provided as a component of the fingernail and toenail lighting device or kit. In general, the power source case can be described as having a top surface, a bottom surface that is curved, either concavely (FIG. 2) or convexly (FIG. 3), a first side surface, a second side surface, a third side surface, a fourth side surface and an interior space. The interior space of the power source case may include at least one compartment for holding a battery. In certain embodiments, the compartment within the power source case to hold the battery is a well which is designed to hold a specifically sized button battery. In further embodiments, the interior space of the power source case includes two compartments or wells to hold two specifically sized button batteries which are connected in series. The power source case may also contain at least one electrical terminal to contact the surface of the battery or batteries that are positioned within the interior of the power source case. In certain embodiments, the power source case includes two electrical terminals which contact the surfaces of two batteries which are positioned within the power source case. In further embodiments, these electrical terminals may be positioned within the bottom surface of the well, the top surface of the power source case or the side surface of the power source case to provide electrical contact to the battery or batteries positioned within the power source case. These electrical terminals may extend from the interior of the power source case to a position or point exterior to the power source case. Accordingly, in certain embodiments, a pair of external electrical terminals is positioned to touch the top surface of the nail where two batteries are used to power or illuminate the light positioned on the surface of the fingernail or toenail. However, it is also envisioned that more than two external electrical terminals may be provided in embodiments which include more than two batteries or embodiments which include more than one light that is to be illuminated. It is also envisioned that in certain embodiments, more than one power source case may be positioned on the fingernail or toenail to illuminate multiple lights.

The power source case has a shape which is suitable to fit over or under the contours of a fingernail or toenail. In certain embodiments, the bottom surface of the power source case has a concave curved surface which is designed to match the contour of the convex surface on the top side of a fingernail or toenail. In certain other embodiments, the bottom surface of the power source case has a convex curved surface which is designed to match the contour of the concave surface on the top side of a fingernail or toenail. The power source case may also include a lid at any of its surfaces to allow access to the power source or batteries positioned therein. In certain embodiments, the top surface of the power source case may also be designed as a lid which may be opened or closed to provide access to the power source or batteries positioned within the interior of the power source case. In further embodiments, the lid may have a latching or locking mechanism to secure the lid to the case.

The fingernail and toenail lighting device or kit includes at least one light which is positioned on a fingernail or toenail. The light positioned on the fingernail or toenail has a relatively low wattage or power output and is capable of continuous use without generating excessive heat and causing physical discomfort upon the individual wearing the light. In certain embodiments, the light which is positioned on the top surface of a fingernail or toenail is a light emitting diode (LED), although any other type of light which a person of ordinary skill in the art would recognize as suitable for use on a fingernail or toenail may be used.

The fingernail and toenail lighting device or kit also includes an adhesive to connect the light and the power source case to the fingernail or toenail. The adhesive may be placed either on the top surface or the bottom surface of the fingernail or toenail, the bottom surface of the light and power source case or some combination thereof. The adhesive may be applied directly to a natural nail or to an artificial or acrylic nail. Any standard adhesive suitable for use within the industry may be used to adhere the light and power source case to the surface fingernail or toenail. An example of such an adhesive may be an acrylic based glue or gel such as ethyl cyanoacrylate. After the adhesive is applied, it is allowed to cure under ambient conditions. In certain embodiments, application of ultraviolet (UV) waves is used to cure the adhesive.

The fingernail and toenail lighting device or kit also includes a device for applying a conductive liquid ink to the top surface of the fingernail or toenail. This device may be referred to as a conductive ink application device. In certain embodiments, the conductive ink is a silver ink although any type of conductive ink which is suitable for application on the surface of a fingernail or toenail for illuminating a light positioned thereon may be used. This conductive ink is used to electrically connect the power source to the light on the surface of the nail and is non-toxic and quick drying. The conductive ink may be drawn on the surface of the nail using the conductive ink application device. In order to complete the electrical circuit, the applicator will draw the conductive ink from the exterior electrical terminals on the power source case to the exterior electrical terminals on the light. In embodiments where the power case contains two electrical terminals to power a single light, a liquid circuit is drawn from a first electrical terminal on the power source case to a first electrical terminal on the light and from a second electrical terminal on the power source case to a second electrical circuit on the light to form a completed circuit between the power source and the light. This allows for the formation of a direct current between the power source and the light. In embodiments where the two or more lights are attached to a single fingernail, the applicator may use the conductive ink application device to draw or create a series circuit where the lights are positioned sequentially on the same electrical pathway or a parallel circuit where the lights are positioned parallel to each other on different electrical pathways.

The conductive ink application device may consist of any device capable of dispensing conductive ink onto the surface of a fingernail or toenail and typically consists of a pen-like structure comprising a shaft containing a reservoir which holds the conductive ink, a stem through which the conductive ink can pass through from the reservoir and a tip through which the conductive ink can be applied onto a surface as it passes through the stem. An example of such a device is a conductive ink pen and ink provided by Electroninks (Austin, Tex.).

The illuminating device disclosed herein may be applied to both natural fingernails and toenails or artificial (acrylic fingernails or toenails). Also, any combination of nail polish or nail coating applications may be applied to the surface of the fingernail or toenail in conjunction with the illuminating device.

In FIGS. 5 through 12, numerous examples of nails decorated with a kit according to the invention. In FIG. 5, a power source case and a light are mounted on the upper surface of a nail with conductive ink applied to the nail and electrically connecting the power source in the case and the light. In FIG. 6, two power source cases and three lights are mounted on the upper surface of a nail with conductive ink applied to the nail and electrically connecting the power sources in the cases and the lights. FIG. 7 is a side view of the example shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 8 is a side view of the example shown in FIG. 6. In FIG. 9, a light is mounted on the upper surface of a nail, a power source case is mounted on the underside of the nail, and conductive ink applied to the nail is electrically connecting the power source in the case and the light. In FIG. 10, two lights are mounted on the upper surface of a nail, two power source cases are mounted on the underside of the nail, and conductive ink applied to the nail is electrically connecting the power sources in the cases to the lights. FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the arrangement shown in FIG. 9. FIG. 12 is a bottom view of the arrangement shown in FIGS. 9 and 11.

Numerous embodiments have been described herein. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the above described embodiments may incorporate changes and modifications without departing from the general scope of the present disclosure. For example, conductive ink on the top of a nail may be covered with a polish or other decorative coating so as to make the conductive ink invisible. For another example, the circuit consisting of one or more lights, one or more power sources, and the conductive ink may include a circuit element operable to cause the light(s) to flash in a repeating pattern or a random pattern. In any case, it is intended that the invention be considered to include all such modifications and alterations in so far as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof. The right to claim elements and/or sub-combinations that are disclosed herein as other inventions in other patent documents is hereby unconditionally reserved.

Having thus described the disclosed system and method, it is now claimed: 

What is claimed is:
 1. A kit for decorating fingernails and toenails comprising: a power source, a power source case, at least one light to be positioned on a fingernail or toenail, an adhesive for connecting the light and the power source case to the fingernail or toenail; a conductive ink for electrically connecting the power source to the light; and a conductive ink application device for applying the conductive ink directly to the fingernail or toenail to electrically connect the power source to the lights. 